My daughter has been the victim of cyber bullying. Hopefully you are aware of what that is. It’s when others use various social media platforms to intimidate or harass others. It’s become something teenagers of this generation have to deal with. Teens will take odd pictures of others and post them with vicious comments. Or they’ll start an “overheard at (fill in the name of your school)” and post anonymous comments about others. Or they’ll spread gossip like wildfire via text or other platforms.

That’s the technical, informational side about cyber bullying. The human mom answer goes something more like this: It’s when selfish brats who can’t say anything to my child’s face make and post comments to make themselves feel better by making my daughter feel awful. And my human mom reaction is more like this: I want to show up at that school or event and tell off that little twerp, because they have no idea what they’re talking about and even less of an idea of the damage they are doing. Then I want to find their parents & school administrators and FREAK OUT ON THEM! Seriously freak out!!

Then the Holy Spirit intercedes. Don’t you love it when He shows up?? I mean really! I want to freak out but He’s all calm and gentle and like “No… let’s look at this from another perspective. Is it going to help your daughter feel better if you freak out on someone? I mean you can, there are just real consequences there. So instead, let me calm you both. Let me comfort you. Let me offer words that you can speak to your daughter. Let me be here with you now.  Let me give you the eyes of Christ in this moment.”

I’m instantly reminded of our identity. We are daughters of the King on Most High. We are holy, chosen and adopted, set apart for His glory. He created us, knows us, fights for us. We can rest in that.

So I hold my daughter, while she’s in tears, and gently remind her of her identity. “Those girls don’t get to define who you are or who you will be. What they say has no bearing on who you were created to be. I know the words hurt now, but God is so much bigger than those words. You know who you are. You are His. He is with you. He will fight for you. They don’t get to mess with you!”

Friends, our kids have so much to battle in this world. Rather than learning to fight in the same ways as this world, be reminded that we were made for more. This isn’t our final home. Other people don’t get to define who we are in this world. Remember that you too are a child of the King on Most High. You too are wanted, redeemed, restored through Jesus. Any time you forget or question it just ask the Holy Spirit to remind you. You don’t have to worry about getting even or proving a point. Let Father God vindicate HIS sons and daughters.